Life without technology

Life without technology is something pretty unfathomable to most of us. Homes are built ‘future-proofed’, with miles of cables, not just servicing the technology incorporated now, but in place for things to come — and a living room sans television is almost unheard of these days. Yet all the evidence points to the benefits of having a few tech-free spaces in the home — to reconnect with real-life and the people around you. We show you the value of creating ‘unplugged’ spaces in your home and just how to do it.

Digital Detox

Just when did we all become so reliant on technology? That panic you feel when you leave the house without your mobile phone or when your internet connection goes down at home — you are most certainly not alone. Screens and the lure of technological devices is everywhere in our modern lives, from our phones in our back pockets to televisions in the kitchen, from games consoles in our living rooms to computers in our children’s bedrooms. But just what kind of an impact is all this technology having on our day-to-day lives?

The findings of studies on our tech-centric lives paint a somewhat grim outlook in terms of both our health as well as our social lives. Our homes used to be somewhere to come together as a family, to wind down after a hard day and to hole-up when the going got tough. With paediatricians now advocating that parents should impose tech free zones in the home, perhaps it is time to clear some space within the home in order to regain an oasis of quiet and calm — to slow down and just be, to talk to the ones we love and appreciate all that we have.

Technology and Our Health

In one recent study looking at Nomophobia (the fear of being without a smartphone), it was found that a whopping 95% of people admitted to texting, browsing the internet or watching TV in the hour before finally falling asleep.

And it isn’t just mobiles that we have too much time of before bed — tablets, computers and even huge-screened televisions all play their part. According to the National Sleep Foundation, the blue light emitted by screens on mobiles, computers, tablets and televisions all limit the production of melatonin – the hormone that controls your sleep/wake cycle – making it harder to fall and stay asleep. They say that you should give yourself at least 30 minutes of gadget free time before bedtime — or even better to make your bedroom a technology-free zone.

It isn’t just our quality of sleep that is affected by screen time either — this lack of sleep has a negative impact on the rest of our days, leading to poor food choices and a lack of physical exercise — and what do we do when we are tired and surrounded by technology? That’s right, we slouch on the sofa with our tablet or staring at the television.

Mental health can be affected too. In her book ‘The Power of Off’, New York based psychotherapist Nancy Collier states that ‘many people are disconnected from what really matters, from what makes us feel nourished and grounded as human beings.’ She goes on to say that ‘Our presence, our full attention is the most important thing we can give each other.’

Screens and Our Children

There is no doubt that television and tablets are pretty much unavoidable when it comes to our children and there can be few teenagers without a mobile phone. But it might surprise you to learn that according to the National Sleep Foundation, about 72% of children aged six to 17 sleep with at least one electronic device in their bedroom, leading to less sleep on school nights compared to those children without — the difference adds up to almost an hour a night.

Another study found that excessive screen time equaled increased loneliness, depression, withdrawal, anxiety, attention problems, and aggression.

So, it seems that the message is pretty clear. Whilst it is not realistic to completely eliminate technology from our lives – there are plenty of benefits after all – it pays to get a grip on the amount of time we dedicate to it. With this in mind, reclaim areas of your home and transform them into tech-free, unplugged spaces — your health, relationships and social life with definitely thank you.

In short, creating spaces within the home that are free from screens and other technological distractions encourages social interaction, conversation and downtime — hugely important factors in family life.

Where to Create a Tech Free Zone

It is all well and good realizing that your home is becoming overrun by technology, but it is quite another thing knowing what to do about it. Take some time to think about the main areas of your home in which you spend the majority of your time and aim to create either a completely tech-free room or at the very least a tech-free area in these spaces.

Consider the way you or your family use your home and think about how to turn these newly unplugged areas into spaces that are attractive to all the family for reasons other than a television or power sockets stuffed full with chargers.

• Living Room

There was a time when the living room was the place everyone in the family retired to after a stressful day. A room in which to unwind on a squashy sofa and get cosy in front of a roaring fire, Nowadays, the comfy sofa seems to have been replaced by a gaming chair and the fireplace has been replaced with a television screen of mammoth proportions.

Going tech-free in the living room means liberating this room from the tyrannical TV and reorganising the space with a focus on socialising and relaxing.

Opting for a selection of sofas and armchairs that scream to be lounged on goes some way towards creating a calming oasis from the busy day-to-day spaces in your home, but their layout is important too. Group sofas and chairs together to face one another to encourage social interaction, and where possible avoid pushing all your furniture up against the wall in order to leave walkways and promote a sense of flow.

Reinstate an old fireplace, or considering fitting a woodburner or gas fire — a far better focal point than a television.

Sometimes there is just no other room in which to place a television. In this case, try to avoid allowing it to becoming the overwhelming presence in the room. Television cabinets that can be closed up when not in use are a good idea, whilst simply placing the television on a TV stand that includes shelving and wire management will help too.

• Bedroom

Televisions and computers have no place in the bedroom so avoid at all costs. The blue light emitted by screens interferes with sleep patterns and if you can’t sleep or switch off the temptation is to fire up your technology, resulting in a vicious cycle — plus they do nothing for the décor.

The ideal bedroom should be free from all light, artificial or natural, once the sun has gone down. The focus in this room should be on relaxation so think cool colours, elegant side tables and sumptuous soft furnishings. Good storage in the form of drawers and wardrobes will ensure clutter is kept to a minimum.

• Kitchen

More often than not, the kitchen is now the hub of family life and using one open plan space for the kitchen, dining and living room is a popular layout. As such an important part of the home, it is clear to see why so many people choose to include a television and/or games console in this space — keeping children occupied while you cook being one of the main reasons people cite for doing so.

However, a television in a space where you also eat and entertain can distract from the social interaction traditionally associated with mealtimes.

If you really can’t imagine life without a television in the kitchen, consider installing one within in a wall unit or take a look at some of the latest ‘pop-up’ televisions which are concealed beneath the worktops when not in use — this way they will be out of sight and out of mind for the majority of the time.

Pop-up and under-counter sockets are also a good idea in the kitchen, meaning laptops and tablets can still be plugged in (handy if the children want to sit and do their homework here, or if you often find yourself working from home in this room) — but without the visual clutter.

• Snug

A snug (less fashionably known as the formal living room) can work in two ways here. Having a second living room solely for quiet relaxation or family time, with no television or screen in sight, is a great idea where the space is available. The main living room can then be used for movie nights and playing on consoles whilst this more ‘grown up’ space remains a haven of calm.

Conversely, a second living room can be the technology room — a den complete with huge television screen, gaming chairs, consoles galore and storage for all the various paraphernalia that goes hand in hand with it all. This leaves your main living room gloriously tech free and allows you to give it a complete digital detox.

• Garden Room

Lacking in space for a dedicated tech-free zone in the house? Then create one in the garden instead. Modular garden rooms are a big trend at present. They are usually delivered in kit form to be constructed on site and usually won’t require planning permission. Failing that, disused outbuildings or integral garages also work well as tech-free areas, as do loft conversions.

• Quiet Corners

Finally, if you are pushed to find a viable space for your tech-free zone, remember that you don’t have to dedicate an entire room of the house to your digital detox.

Setting aside a corner of the living room as a tech-free space is a great idea. A large comfy armchair by a window with a wall light or lamp placed alongside is a good start. Hang a favourite picture in this corner and place an eye-catching side table or nest of tables alongside your chair and you are well on the way to carving out a little bit of solace without using up too much space.

Tech Free Essentials

Certain items of furniture make tech-free spaces all the easier to achieve. Whilst TV cabinets that close up when not in use overcome the issue of the television being the overriding feature in a room, choosing a good TV stand capable not only of blending in well with the rest of your décor but also providing shelving for DVD players and games consoles will go some way towards minimising the visual impact of your television.

* (Martin, 2011)